Blazer signs to wrestle at West Point

National Trail's 1st wrestling state champion will be the program's 1st div. 1 wrestler after signing with West Point.
Jesus Jimenez

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National Trail's Ben Sullivan signed his National Letter of Intent to wrestle for the United States Military Academy at West Point during a ceremony at National Trail High School Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016.(Photo: Jesus Jimenez/Palladium-Item)Buy Photo

Ben Sullivan missed the majority of his junior wrestling season with a rib injury the National Trail 220-pounder suffered during his football season.

He returned just in time for the most important 19 matches of his career so far, as he went on to become the Blazers’ first state champion in the sport.

Sullivan added another first to his already impressive resume, as he signed his National Letter of Intent to wrestle at the United States Military Academy at West Point during a ceremony Wednesday.

“It’s a great opportunity to wrestle D-1, God has blessed me with the ability to, so I’m looking forward to it,” Sullivan said. “I was looking to go D-1, I was looking at other schools, but I went there to visit West Point and I liked it.”

Sullivan enters his senior year with 100 victories and 10 losses in his three-year career.

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National Trail's Ben Sullivan signed his National Letter of Intent to wrestle for the United States Military Academy at West Point during a ceremony at National Trail High School Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016. Jesus Jimenez/Palladium-Item

National Trail's Ben Sullivan signed his National Letter of Intent to wrestle for the United States Military Academy at West Point during a ceremony at National Trail High School Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016. Jesus Jimenez/Palladium-Item

National Trail's Ben Sullivan signed his National Letter of Intent to wrestle for the United States Military Academy at West Point during a ceremony at National Trail High School Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016. Jesus Jimenez/Palladium-Item

National Trail's Ben Sullivan signed his National Letter of Intent to wrestle for the United States Military Academy at West Point during a ceremony at National Trail High School Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016. Jesus Jimenez/Palladium-Item

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He said he was first introduced to wrestling by his father, who helped bring consistency as a coach at National Trail, and his older brother Zach Sullivan, who is now an assistant for the Blazers under head coach Mike Eyler.

“He’s been wrestling for us since about fifth grade, so getting to see him achieve the dream that he’s had of making it to a big school, making it to the collegiate level, win his championships, things like that, it’s nice,” Eyler said. “It’s great for him, it’s great for the program, it’s great for everybody else, and we’re all really proud of him.”

Eyler said Sullivan is the first National Trail wrestler ever to commit to wrestling at the Division I level.

Zach Sullivan graduated in 2015 and wrestled at St. Catharine’s College before the school closed in July.

He owns the school record with 174 wins and just 17 losses.

Ben Sullivan won’t break the career wins record due in part to his shortened junior season, but that doesn’t stop him from setting lofty goals for his final year.

“Go undefeated,” he said. “I have the same goal every year. I haven’t achieved it yet, but that’s my goal. And of of course, I’d like to win state again.”

Sullivan has 59 career pins and finished second as a freshman at third as a sophomore.

He started as the football team’s quarterback this fall before moving to running back.

Sullivan said he has committed to a year of prep school at West Point, before his four years of studying and five years of military school. He hopes to study engineering.

“I think as a wrestler, the things that make Ben successful: A, he has a lot of faith, he’s very Godly,” Eyler said. “He’s strong in that sense, he’s a fighter, he’s got a lot of guts, he’s got a lot of drive and ambition, he’s not afraid to practice, he works very hard in the training room, he works until he’s got it down, and that’s a really good quality in any athlete, in anything, but he really kind of excels in the wrestling room.”

Sullivan plans on competing at a national Ironman tournament and clean up his technique in preparation of West Point. Eyler said Sullivan placed fourth in the 2015 Ironman tournament, but was unable to compete in it last year.

The Blazers kick off their season Dec. 6 at Arcanum.

“We’re hoping we could repeat this year,” Eyler said. “We want him to get a second state title, because that’s the level he’s at, but we also want to make sure he’s prepared for the collegiate level, because it’s a whole different animal moving from high school wrestling in Ohio, which is really good nationally, but then moving up into D-1 athletics.